Nea was built on the abandoned buildings of a convalescent home of the
Histadrut (workers organization). The restoration preserved the original
buildings and structures, but transformed it into a stylish hotel. It features
three sections – the main hotel, the spa section and the villas. The hotel is
family friendly, but the spa section is adult only, and comes with
complimentary entrance to the spa facilities and the heated pool.
The new vibe can be felt once
entering the hotel. The blue façade leads directly to the bar – this is where
the reception resides, and the check-in came with a welcome drink. The lobby and reception are located here. It
is also connected to the restaurant.
The décor is contemporary with
retro midcentury-style furniture (mostly in the rooms), which has a lot of character.
It features elements of sea with artefacts such as orange life buoys, ship
models, etc. The main building has the shades of blue, the villas azure, and
the spa green.
Rooms
Nea has a total of 74 rooms in
three buildings. All the rooms have a stylish-clean
finish with wooden floor, white bath tiles and balconies, even though in the
main buildings the balconies are very small and just enough for a couple to sit
on and have a drink.
All rooms are equipped to pamper the guests including a rain shower in the
bathroom, the Israeli-known Sabon toiletries, terry towels and bath robes,
climate control, WIFI, cable TV, espresso machine, mini bar, safe, hairdryer.
The most unique part of the hotel is the villas. They have the appeal of
the Hamptons! These villas are spacious and each has a private deck with a
heated current pool. They are over 40 meters in size and include a separate
area for up to three children.
Recreation
The Western Galilee offers many attractions. But many of the people who
come to Nea (us included) come here to relax – to enjoy the pools, spa, beach
and gardens. The beach is only a few steps away from Nea. The hotel offers
complimentary bikes, which we took advantage of. We cycled around the small
rural settlement of Shavei Tzion and on the beach. The beach has a comfortable
swimming area as well as a beautiful rocky area, which is more common in this
area of the Mediterranean. Even though it was mid October when we stayed there,
we could bath in the sea since it isn’t too cold.
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| Beach |
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| Archaeological site near Nea |
The hotel has two main pools. A larger, all-family pool, partially shaded
and with complimentary cabanas and the spa pool. The spa pool is located in the
spa area and is smaller but heated. There is also a Watsu pool.
The hotel is surrounded by green. Garden furniture and hammocks are
scattered around the hotel’s green lawns and decks. We enjoyed relaxing here
with a glass of Chardonnay. We also found some really nice spots for the
perfect Instagram photos. During weekends and seasons, it is a gathering place
for friends and families.
Culinary – EatWith style
The restaurant of Nea is in the heart of the hotel. It is where people
meet. It is intimate; its style is like EatWith, much of the sitting area is
long tables that encourage interaction between guests. The food is served to
the tables so that no effort and running around is needed, and one can enjoy
the meal while sitting back.
The food is Kosher-Mediterranean
(made by Chef Shlomi Hachum) and is served like a mini-buffet in wooden box
trays. Each party receives their own food tray. And when I say tray, don’t let that
mislead you - it is stylish gourmet food. Dinner was a three courses meal. The
first was a tray full of starters like whole roasted sweet potato in almond and
pistachio tahini and dates honey, herbs tabouli, cherry tomato salad, roasted
eggplant with tahini and lentils, tahini with whole chickpeas and chimichurri
and beans. Each starter was served differently – in pan-like plates, jars, and
bowls in different sizes and heights. For example, the green salad was served
as a flowerpot and the dressing in a tube. Everything was delicious, even the
bread!
The main course was smoked meat
and was also served in a tray to our table. It included ribs, baby chicken,
roasted potato and vegetables and rice. There was an option for a fish plate,
which we passed. Dessert was surprisingly tasty considering that the restaurant
is kosher and that it was non-dairy (Parve).
Breakfast was served similarly,
a tray of salads and starters and an egg by order. We were particularly amused
when the waiter rolled to us a cheese buffet fridge
(which included Camembert, Gouda and other cheeses) and offered us cheeses.
In summary, Nea is a perfect
place for a relaxing retreat!
Information
Nea Hotel, Haela 4 Shavei zion, www.nea.co.il, Tel: (972) 4-995-8888.
Disclosure: the writer was a
guest of the hotel
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